Portable oil changer



July 26 1949 J. D. GRAY 477A PORTABLE oIL CHANGER Filed Deo. l5, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet L l I I IN VEN TOR.

July 26, 1949. .,l.` D. GRAY PORTABLE OIL CHANGER Filed Deo. l5, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. @m

ZATAS@ July 26, 194%. J. D. GRAY `POIIABLE OIL CHANGER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 15, 1948 INVENTOR `automobile crankcase is Patented July 26, 1949 UIUTED` STATES PATENT i `QFFICE Y v 2,477,451 1 f i a V v 7 `ronTifussLE on. GHANGERv John D. Gray, Evanston, lll.' Application December 15, 1948, Serial No. 65,387 n s claims. (misi-1.5) i

This invention relates to a portable oil changer to withdraw oil from acrankcase of an automobile. It has several auxiliary uses.

The standard way of removing oil from an to drain it from `the plug hole in the bottom of the crankcase. It has heretofore been `proposed to withdraw the oil either through the oil intake or through the opening for the measuring stick so as to eliminate driving the car onto a lift or over an oil pit. Withdrawing oil through the oil intake is not practical because the passageway in almost al1 cars is somewhat tortuous and differs greatly with different engines hose that maybe positioned down the oil intake of `one engine may not work very well when an attempt is made to force it down the oil intake of withdrawing the oil through measuring stick is slow bein many cars is only onein diameter and a tube insome other engine.

the opening for the cause this opening quarter of an inch sertable in this hole may have an insideV diameter of only one-eighth of an inch.

`The rst object of this invention is to provide an oil changer that is equipped with a pump developing sufficient suction to withdraw oil through an opening slightly more than one-eighth of an inch in diameter at` a high velocity so that the oil may be taken from a crankcase in a period of two or three minutes. The time element is success of this tvpe` of apparatus will largely depend upon its ability to remove the voil while a station attendantis performing the usual opgas tank, checking the water, and cleaning the windshield. If the removal of oil can be performed concurrently with add fresh oil to the crankcase.

A speciilc object of thisqoil changer is to provide the customer with a visual check on the the amount of the so that even a iiexible 2 it out of the crankcase. A customer wants to know that the oil is out and he wants to decide this for himself. He does not want to take the word of a station attendant or a machine.

A major feature of the provision inthe oil changer of a sump which applicants invention is as the sump of applicants oil changer can best be viewed lfrom the drivers seat, the driver will be likely te remain in his seat and be ready to pull out of the station when the servicing is completed.

An important object of this invention is so to relate the major parts of the oil changer, namely, the container for waste oil, the pump, and. the

sump, to each other so that the oil changer is very compact from a plan view. By way of explanation, most gasoline pump islands consist of an elongated concrete platform whose height is from six to eight inches above the concrete aprons over which the automobiles move. pumps are mountedv on this platform. it is, therefore, not practical to pull a portable oil changer onto this platform between servicing operation's. Through long practice, drivers pull up beside the pump island so as to yspace the near edge of the car from the pump island by two or three feet and the hoses on the pump are of such a length that the station attendant can reach the gasoline inlet irrespective of which side of the car the inlet is on. The portable oil changer, therefore, must be between the island andthe car when the driver's seat is adjacent to the island and must be on the far side of the car when the drivers seat is away from the island, the position of the drivers seat depending upon the direction ofthe car as it pulls along side the island. It will frequently be desirable to turn the oil changer around between the car and the island. If the oil changer hasone horizontal dimension exceeding two feet, turning it around will in many cases be impossible. It will he necessary to push the oil changer beyond the island'and turn it around and bring it back. Appiicants oil changer has an over-al1 length of twenty inches and a width of approximately seventeen inches. It is supported on two wheels and a, caster. Additionally, the top of the sump must be quite low in order for a personrsltting in the drivers seat of a car., particularly of the new low cars, to be able to see into'it. The over-al1 height of apphcants oil `changer is thirty-eight inches and the highest point onthe sump cover is thirty-six inches above the bottom of the wheels. primarily because of applicants positioning the sump, the ymotor and pump, and the waste oil container-in a vertical line with these various parts overlapping each other so as 'to provide compactness.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable oil changer which may be used in con'- nection with a crankcase flushing operation. The ratio of the number of the crankcase flushing operations to the numberof crankcase oil changes is very wide-it may be one to fifty or one to five hundred. The flushing operation requires the addition of some light oil to the crankcase,

Aafter which the engine `is ordinarily run for a few minutes and then the flushing oil is withdrawn. Applicant considered mounting the container for flushing oil in his portable oil changer but discarded this plan because it necessitated enlarging the oli changer unit and this impaired rthe mobility of theunit. Additionally, the iiushing oil tank with contents would add considerable weight. One of the featuresr of applicants invention is .the provision of quick-change couplings whichmake it possible to utilize the oil changer as a means for withdrawing oil from a 4flushing oil containerandpumping it down the measuring stick opening of the crankcase.

The

'4 Thereafter, by quickly changing hoses, the flushing oil could be withdrawn from the crankcase and returned to the ushing oil container. These quick-change couplings also make it possible for applicant to quickly remove the oi1 from the waste oil container of his oil changer. Appli cants container has a capacity of something over twenty quarts and it is, therefore, necessary to empty it frequently. By means of an auxiliary hose, applicant uses the pump to remove the oil from this container.

There are several other features in applicants oil changer which will appear in the description that follows. In the accompanying drawings comprising three sheets:

Fig. 1 illustrates the position of applicants portable oil changer adjacent the drivers seat of a car and aiso shows a portable cart carrying These dimensions are possible I a flushing oil;

Fig. 2 is aside elevation. partly cut away. of applicants oil changer;

Fig. 3 is a front view of applicants oil changer with the front side wall partly cut away;

. Fig. 4 is a plan view of applicants oil changer.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view from above looking down on the oil changer at approximately the angle that a driver would see it when sitting in a drivers seat of an automobile; and,

Fig. 6 illustrates the three types of suction sticks having different diameters, one being flexible', with which applicants oil changer is equipped. y

Continuing to refer to the drawings, particularly Fig. l, the numeral Ill generally identifies applicants portable oil changer. The front bottom of the oil changer comprises a straight angle iron I2, see Figs. 2 and 3, to either end of which is fastened an angle iron i4, the angle iron I4 being bent around in a curve to form a plan similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4. A oor I6 is suitably supported on the 'frame members I2 and I4. A side wall I8 extends around the frame member I4 and is fastened thereto. This side wall carries louvers 20 which assist in circulating air to cool the motor. The rigidity to the top of the runit is provided by a sump casting 22. Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the periphery of this casting has the same general shape as the bottom frame members and the side walls are fastened to this periphery by any suitable means. The casting has a front fiat portion or shelf 24, see Fig. 2, a, raised shoulder 26, and a sump 28. The sump has a shelf 30 therein and the wall 32 connecting the shelf to the `bottom 34 of the sump is arcuate, see Fig.

4, so that an electric motor 36 may bey positioned beneath the shelf 3D and close to the wall 32 for f purposes of compactness. A pair of large wheels means such as screws.

.The entire pump assembly and waste container is a separate unitA which may be quickly installed or removed from the oil changer. It consists of a waste oil container 44, see Fig. A3, which rests on the floor iiiy and which is held to the oor by tie rods 46` and 48 which in turn are removably fastened to the bottom frame'member i4 so that the hooks may be turned ninety degrees `to permit ready removal of the container y,44.l The top of the container supports a lid 50, and mounted on this lid is the motor 36 which is drivingly connested to a pump 52, see Fig. 2, supported on the under side of the ud.- The pump has an 4inlet 54 andan outlet 68. An oil gauge 5 8 for showing that the oil in the container 44 has' reached a switch box 60 throughwhich passes an electricv line lead 62 which `is connected to` the motor 36. Mounted on the shelf 24` of the casting 22 is a filter 64, see Fig. 3, whoseinlet carries a quickchange coupling 66 and whose outlet is directed through an elbow 68 to a quick-change coupling '|0. A exible conduit '|2 connects the pump inlet 54 to the quick-change coupling 10, the complementary quick-change coupling 14 beingon the.

flexible conduit 12. An oil drain pipe 16 having a quick-change coupling 18 is rigidly mounted on the shelf 24 and the bottom of this pipe is close to the bottom of the container 44. A handle 80 is also mounted on the shelf 24. There are three holes 82, 84 and 86 in the casting for supportingl the suction tubes or sticks 88, 90 and 92;

Because the crankcase measuring stick openi ings are of a different size, applicant equips his oil changer with three different types of suction tubes or sticks. Thesesticks 88, 90 and 92 are illustrated in` Fig. 2. Each has a quick-change coupling at its upper end. Suction stick 88 has an outside diameter of slightly less than onefourth inch, 90 has an outside diameter of slightly less than three-eighths inch, `and 92 is iiexible. Each stick is equipped with a quick change coupling. Two lengths of flexible hose such as 94 are supplied and when not in use they may be wound around the arms 96 and 98.

The sump has a drain opening |00 in which seats a conical end of a measuring stick |02 having a disc 04 near its top for protecting the hand from a rag used to clean the stick after showing the reading to a customer.

Applicant |06 fastened casting 22.

The oil changer is used as follows. When a customer pulls up next to an island, the oil changer is positioned adjacent the windshield with the lower side of the sump adjacent to the drivers seat. Under normal circumstances, the hose 94, see-Fig. 1, is attached at the quick-change couprovides a transparent plastic lid by a hinge |08 to the top of the sump tainer of iiushing oil, see

pling 66, see Fig. 3, and the attendant selects that one of the suction sticks 88, 90 or 92, see Fig. 6, which is the largest that may be inserted in the measuring stick opening of the crankcase of the particular type of motor. He positions the suction stick in the opening and then snaps the free end of the hose 94 onto the suction stick. He throws the switch of the switch box 60, seeFig. 3, and proceeds with the steps of putting gasoline `into the tank, checking the water and cleaning the windshield. The driver sees the oil changer in approximately the position shown in Fig. 5. As presently constructed, the baille H2 is opaque so that he cannot see the ow of the oil through the port ||4 (the baille is omitted from Fig. 4), but he does see it flow over the step 30. The oil rises on the measuring stick |02. When the attendant has completed his other servicing operations, he raises the lid |06 and lifts out the measuring stick |02. The measuring stick also constitutes the plug for drain |00 so that the oil` flows into thewaste oil tank I8. He shows the measuring stick |02 to the customer, wipes it off, and replaces it in the drain |00 assoon as the -electrical connection, not

oil is out. He then removes the suction stick and hose 94and replaces the automobiles measuring stick in the crankcase measuring stick hole. Oil is then added to the motor in the standard manner. l

-When it is necessary to empty theA oil from the container I8, the oil changer waste oil drum and the hose is rolled over to a be cleaned by turning the handle lon the'A top thereof and dirt accumulations pass out through the bottom port. If the pump or motor require servicing, the front panel 42 is removed and the tie rods 46 and 48 loosened. By disconnecting an shown, between. the switch box 60and the motor 38, and by disconnecting the liquid line connections between the pump and the couplings on the shelf 24, the container |8 and motor pump assembly may be quickly liftedV out of the cart.

Where it is desired to perform a flushing out operation, an auxiliary cart |||l carrying a con- Fig. 1, is drawn up beside the oil changer I0. The free end of `th hose 94, either with or without a suction stick on it, is positioned in the flushing oil on the cart l0, and a second hose is attached to the port ||4 in the sump. The largest suction stick that canI be used for the particular engine is attached to this hose and the oil is pumped from the cart ||0 into the crankcase of the engine. The engine may be run for a few moments, after which the hoses are reversed so that the hose 94 sucks the oil out of the engine and the other hose attached to the port ||4 directs the oil back to the flushing oil cart ||0. It will be noted that the ushing oil on its return to the cart ||0 passes through the lter 64. This filter performs the double `function of protecting the pump, which is a gear pump, and cleaning the ushing oil so that it may be used repeatedly.

There is one thing that is not shown clearly in the drawings and that is the connection of the pumps outlet line 6 to the port or quick-change coupling ||4. This is a direct connection which cannot be seen in Fig. 3 because it is directly behind a quick-change coupling 18 and between the two walls that form the shoulder of the sump 26, see Fig. 2.

Having thus described applicants invention, what he claims is:

1. A portable oil changer comprising a cart supported 'on wheels, a pump mounted on the cart, a liquid conduit having one end attached to the inlet of the pump, a visible sump mounted on the cart, a conduit connecting the outlet of the pump to the sump, a waste oil container posi-` tioned beneath the sump, a drain in the sump over the waste oil container, and a measuring stick having a plug on the bottom for seating in said drain.

2. A portable oil changer comprisingV a cart supported on wheels, a pump mounted thereon, a liquid conduit connected to the inlet of the pump, an upwardly open liquid sump mounted on the top of the cart, the top periphery of the sump 1ying in an inclined plane, a transparent lid over said sump, and a liquid conduit connecting the pump outlet to the sump.

94 is connected to the quick-change coupling 'I8. A`- second hose" quick-change coupling is connected to` 3. A portable oil changer comprising a cart supported on wheels. a pump mounted thereon, a liquid conduit connected to the inlet of the pump, anv upwardly open liquid sump mounted on the top oi the cart, the top periphery of the sump -lying in an inclined plane, a transparent lid over said sump, a liquid conduit connecting the outlet of the pump to the sump, a waste oil container positioned beneath the sump, a drain in the sump over the waste oil`container, and a liquid measuring gauge having a plug on the bottom for seating in said drain.

4. A portable oil changer comprising a cart, a waste oil container in the bottom of the cart, a pump positioned within said container, an electrical motor drivingly connected to the pump positioned vertically above the pump and above the container. an upwardly open visible sump positioned above the motor, said sump having a depending portion extending below the top of the motor and to one side thereof, a liquid conduit connecting the outlet of the pump to the sump, a liquid conduit leading to the inlet of the pump, and a drain from the depending portion of the sump into the waste container.

5. A portable oil changer comprising a cart supported on wheels, a side casing for said cart,

a single casting constituting the top of the cart and mounted on the top edges of the side casing,` an upwardly open sump having a top periphery lying in an inclined plane in said casting, a horizontal shelf on said casting adjacent the sump, a pump in said cart, a liquid conduit connecting the pump to the sump, a filter mounted on the shelf, a liquid conduit connecting the. filter to the pump inlet, a ilexible liquid conduit connected to the inlet of vthe iilter, a waste oil container positioned beneath the sump, a drain` in the sump over the waste oil container, and. a measuring stick yhaving a plug on the bottom for seating in said drain.

6. A portable oil changer comprising a cart supported on wheels, a side casing for said cart, a single casting constituting the top of the cart and mounted on the top edges of the side casing, an upwardly open sump having a top periphery lying in an inclined plane in said casting, a horizontal shelf on said casting adjacent the sump, a waste oil container beneath the sump and the shelf, a drain from the sump into the waste oil container, a suction tube mounted on the shelf and depending into the waste oil container, a filter mounted on the shelf, liquid conduits connecting the` outlet of the filter to the pump inlet and the pump outlet to the sump, and quick-change couplings mounted on the lter inlet and on the suction tube outlet, both quickchange couplings being on top Vof the shelf.

7. A portable oil changer comprising a cart supported on wheels, a pump mounted thereon, a liquid conduit connected to the inlet of the pump, an upwardly open liquid sump mounted REFERENCES CITED o The following references are of record in the lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES EATENTS Number Name Date 1,655,939 Copeland Jan. 10, 1928 2,222,516 Powell 'T NOV. 19, 1940 2,312,091 Gray Feb. 23, 1943 

